Hearing assistance device

Abstract

A device structured to assist the hearing of a user by being removably connected to and disposing a user's ear in an enhanced hearing orientation. One embodiment includes an elongated base, which may be disposable, and has a sufficient length to be disposed in an operative position behind the user's ear. Opposite ends of the base include an adhesive material secured to a common side thereof, wherein different ones of said opposite ends are respectively disposed and maintained in confronting engagement with a rear surface of the ear and adjacently disposed portion of the user's head. The base further includes biasing capabilities disposed and structured to exert a sufficient, forwardly and outwardly directed force on the user's ear to dispose and maintain it in the enhanced hearing orientation, when the base is in the operative position.

1. A device structured to facilitate hearing of a user's ear, said device comprising:
 a base having an elongated configuration of sufficient length to assume an operative position relative to the ear, 
 said base including an head segment and a plurality of ear segments, 
 said plurality of ear segments extending outwardly from said head segment in spaced relation to one another, 
 said operative position comprising said head segment and said plurality of ear segments respectively and concurrently disposed in confronting engagement with a rear surface of the ear and adjacent head portion, 
 said base including biasing capabilities structured to produce a predetermined positioning force on the ear by said ear segments when said base is in said operative position, and 
 said predetermined positioning force being sufficient to dispose the ear into a hearing enhanced orientation capable of a predetermined decibel increase in a sound pressure level of the ear. 
 
     
     
       2. A device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said base and said biasing capabilities are cooperatively structured to define said hearing enhanced orientation as an outward and forward positioning of the ear relative to the adjacent head portion. 
     
     
       3. A device as recited in  claim 2  wherein a strength of said positioning force is determinative of said hearing enhanced orientation; said hearing enhanced orientation relative to the head portion being determinative of an increase or decrease in the decibels of the sound pressure level of the ear. 
     
     
       4. A device as recited in  claim 3  wherein said positioning force is sufficient to establish an increase of at least five decibels in the sound pressure level. 
     
     
       5. A device as recited in  claim 3  wherein said positioning force is sufficient to establish an increase of at least 10 decibels in the sound pressure level. 
     
     
       6. A device as recited in  claim 3  wherein said positioning force is sufficient to establish an increase of at least 20 decibels in the sound pressure level. 
     
     
       7. A device as recited in  claim 3  wherein said positioning force is sufficient to establish an increase of generally between 5 decibels and 20 decibels of sound pressure level. 
     
     
       8. A device as recited in  claim 7  wherein said base and said biasing capabilities are cooperatively structured to define a positioning force of generally about 0.60 lbs. per inch and greater than generally about 0.40 lbs. per inch. 
     
     
       9. A device as recited in  claim 8  wherein said head segment comprises a larger transverse dimension along a majority of its length than either one of said plurality of ear segments. 
     
     
       10. A device as recited in  claim 8  wherein said plurality of ear segments and a spacing therebetween comprise a collective transverse dimension greater than that of said head segment. 
     
     
       11. A device as recited in  claim 10  wherein said collective transverse dimension of said plurality of ear segments and said spacing therebetween is generally about one inch. 
     
     
       12. A device as recited in  claim 11  wherein a length of said head segment is generally about three quarters of an inch between said plurality of ear segments and an outer extremity of said head segment. 
     
     
       13. A device as recited in  claim 8  wherein each of said plurality of ear segments comprises an elongated configuration of substantially continuous transverse dimension along its length substantially from said head segment to an free, outer extremity thereof. 
     
     
       14. A device as recited in  claim 13  wherein said transverse dimension of each of said ear segments is at least generally about ¼ inch. 
     
     
       15. A device as recited in  claim 14  wherein a length of said head segment is at least generally about three quarters of an inch. 
     
     
       16. A device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said plurality of ear segments comprise at least two ear segments disposed in spaced relation to one another along at least a portion of their respective lengths. 
     
     
       17. A device as recited in  claim 16  wherein said two ear segments collectively define a substantially bifurcated configuration including a substantially outward, angular orientation relative to one another. 
     
     
       18. A device as recited in  claim 17  wherein said biasing capabilities comprise a plurality of ribs each extending along a length of said head segment and a different one of said two ear segments. 
     
     
       19. A device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said base comprises an indicator disposed thereon and indicative of a configuring of said base to substantially conform to said operative position.